New Forest

New Forest's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure and work life.

The population reached nearly 180,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of New Forest increased by 4.2%, from about 169,000 to 176,000.

The addition of about 7,100 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, New Forest was home to, on average, 1.7 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older New Forest

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of New Forest increased by three years, from 44 to 47 years.

This coastal area had the second-highest average age in the South East and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 6,300 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 5,000.

About 15% of people in New Forest are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and New Forest by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in New Forest

New Forest saw the South East's joint third-largest fall in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability, alongside Fareham. The largest fall was seen in Gosport

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (88%) in New Forest reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities, compared with 90% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.9% to 3.7%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in New Forest

The number of people in New Forest from the White ethnic groups remained close to 170,000 between the last two censuses. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 99% to 98%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in New Forest from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 700 in 2001 to about 1,700 in 2011 (from 0.4% to 0.9%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 840 to about 1,600 (from 0.5% to 0.9%).

About 610 people (0.1%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just over 190 in 2001 (0.4%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in New Forest decreased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and New Forest by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in New Forest that rented privately increased from 7.2% to 12% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under one in nine (11%) households lived in social housing, compared with 10% in 2001. The percentage of New Forest households that owned their home decreased from 80% to 75%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10% in 2001 to 16% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in New Forest increased by 4.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in New Forest, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in New Forest working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15% to 11% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.3%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in New Forest decreased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in New Forest, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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